Chimney cleaning device



July23, 1940. s J. HAwKlNsoN CHIMNEY CLEANING DEVICE Filed March 2l.1939 xNvENToR ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1940 l 2,208,9'Olf il u I,units resiliently urged apart to have brushing action on opposed chimneywalls in which novel means are incorporated for adjusting the brushunits to a chimney of predetermined size and in which the brush unitsmay be latched in closely compacted relation to facilitate lowering ofthe device to the bottom of the chimney preparatory to expanding thebrush elements and drawing the device upwardly of the chimney.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure l is a side elevational view of adevice `in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a similarlview taken from a position at right angles toFigure 1.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make `use ofbrush units I0 and I2.

Each brush unit comprises a back I4 and rows of steel bristles I6. Eachunit is also preferably made up of sections I8, see Figure 2, which secftions are arranged in edge-to-edge relation and recessed at 20 for thereception of a metal strap 22 having holes for the reception of screws24 threaded into the sections I8 for connecting the same into a unitarystructure. The width of the brush units when viewed according to Figure2 is such as to readily pass into chimneys of standard construction.This is also `true of the configuration illustrated in Figure l, whichViewA illustrates the units `II) and I2 latched in closely nestedrelation for passage into the chimney. Unit III is provided with aspacing screw 26, while both units I0 and I2 are provided with spacingscrews 28 arranged to have abutting relation when the units arepositioned according to Figure 1. I Thus the screws 26 and 28 hold theunits I0 and I2 in the parallel relation of Figure 1.

Unit I2 is provided with a loop 30 into which one end of a latch bolt 32projects, which latch` bolt is slidably related to a housing 34associated with the unit Ill. Loop 38 is welded to a hinge section 36,while housing 34 is welded to a hinge section 38. |Ihus the units I0 andI2 will be effectively latched in the position of Figure 1 when thelatch bolt 32 projects into the loop 30. The latch bolt includes a head48 against which one end of a compression spring 42 bears, with theopposite end of the spring abuting the end 44 of the housing 34 forurging the head 46 into the loop 30. Latch bolt 32 may be withdrawn fromgagement with the pin 68.

Means for urging the units I8 and I2 apart or `to the direction of thedotted line positions of of the-screw 6I).

twenty per cent .to Mervil Hamlin,V Milan,

the loop 38 through the medium of a pull-'chain 46.

Hinge section 36 is pivotally connected with a hinge section 48 throughthe medium of a bolt 5I) having its ends upset at 52 to restrain thebolt from relative longitudinal movement. Hinge section 38 is pivotallyconnected with a hinge section 54 through the medium of a bolt 55, whichis also upset at its ends in the same manner as the bolt 50. Hingesections 36 and 48 and 38 and 54 respectively comprise two ordinarystrap hinges. Bolts 50 and 56 are spaced sufficiently far to providefree accommodation for the pull chain 46. I connect the bolts in fixed,spaced relation through the medium of welded connections 58. Sections 36and 38 have their lower ends provided with openings for looselyreceiving screws 60 threaded into the units I8 and I2. To the free endsof the sections 48 and 54 I connect a bolt 62 for the reception of aring 64 to which an operating rope or cable 66 is connected.

A pin 68 is also connected with the hinge sections 48 and 54, which pin`passes through a ring 'I0 in the pull chain 46 to limit the movement ofthe pullchain. In other words, the brush assembly may be lowered toposition with the units I0 and I2 latched in the compact relation ofFigure l, after which the pull chain is given a yank for withdrawing thelock bolt 32. A sudden yank on the pull chain easily withdraws the lockbolt and such withdrawal is easily determined by the sense of touch asthe ring I0 is pulled upwardly into en- Figure 1` comprises a relativelystiff compression spring 12 which has one end welded to the hinge 4section 36 and its opposite end welded to the hinge section 38. Asmaller compression spring 14 is also in pressure relation with the twohinge sections, and each section is provided with an opening for looselyreceiving a bolt 16 upon which the spring 'I4 is mounted.` The bolt isprovided with a nut 18 which may be adjusted to vary the effectivelength of the bolt, so that the nut I8 and the bolt head 80 constitutestop means for limiting the spread of the hinge sections 36 and 38 whenthelatch bolt 32 is withdrawn.

Two screws 28 are arranged on opposite edges of the hinge section 36 soas to restrain the unit I2 from relative pivotal movement about theaxisy The two screws 28 associated with the unit I4 are also associatedwith the hinge section 38 in the same manner.

Spring 'I2 in combination with the smaller spring 14 is of such tensionas to effectively press the Wire bristles I6 against opposite faces ofthe chimney for cleaning purposes. The bristles are of suflicient lengthand are spaced in such manner as to embody an effective brushing action.The spread of the hinge sections 36 and 38 may be predetermined throughadjustment of the nut 18 for adjusting the units fIl! and I2 to theVrequirements of a predetermined chimney', "Limiting the spread oftheunits ID and I2 is an important feature, particularly when cleaningchimneys having communicating flues and the like. sence of limitingmeans, the brush unitssfare urged into the ue openings and frequentlylodge therein so as to render dislodgementlidiixicult and Lila;

some cases impossible.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing Will so f ully illustrate myinventiongthat others, may,

by applying current knowledge readily adapt the same for use underVarious conditions ofs'ervicef I claim:

y of the pullmember.

A chimney cleaning brush comprising two brush units, two strap hinges,each strap hinge having a first part thereof pivotally connected withone `brush unit, the second part of each strap hinge being xedlyconnected with the same part of the other strap hinge, a loop xed to therst part of one strap hinge, a spring urged bolt slidably mounted on therst part of the other strap hinge, withthe' bolt 'arranged `toi" befextended'ijinto said loop for-holding th brush units in" clcseli'fnested vand inoperative positions, spring means acting "fn'said rstparts to pivot the latter and the brush units away from each other whensaid spring pressed bolt is Withdrawn from said loop,

ya pull element 'connected with said springurged bolt,and stop meansfixed to the second parts of said strap hinges'and operatively connectedwith said pull.` member to limit the relative movement SVERRE J.HAWKINsoN.

